Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Verizon rate hike lower than sought

Compiled from staff reports The Spokesman-Review

Washington state regulators Tuesday approved a much lower telephone rate hike for Verizon customers than the one first proposed by the company.

Basic local phone rates for Verizon’s residential and business customers will rise by $2.43 per month, starting May 1, the state Utilities and Transportation Commission said Tuesday.

Verizon had initially proposed an increase of about $10 a month. The increases do not affect wireless customers. That service is not regulated by Washington officials.

Verizon, formerly GTE, hadn’t sought a local phone-rate increase for more than 22 years. The company also agreed not to seek any additional rate hike for two years.

In addition to the hike in basic telephone service, the settlement also allows Verizon to raise rates for a variety of discretionary services and to impose a late-payment fee.

Directory-assistance calls will increase to $1.25 from 90 cents for each requested phone number. The late-payment fee will charge the greater of 1.5 percent of any unpaid balance, or a $2.50 minimum charge for residential customers.

Cisco tech van to host sessions today

Area small and medium-sized businesses can visit Cisco Systems’ Network on Wheels technology van when the company hosts two sessions today in the Spokane Valley and one on Monday in Coeur d’Alene.

The free showcase features Cisco networking technologies inside a 25-foot mobile lab. Co-sponsored by Qwest, the Cisco technology showcase provides hands-on demonstrations of products designed to help businesses cut costs and streamline information flow.

Today’s two sessions are at 12710 East Mirabeau Parkway, Suite 300. They run from 8 a.m. to noon, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday’s session will be at the Coeur d’Alene Resort and runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Agilent cuts longtime staffer’s position

Corporate reductions by Agilent Technologies have eliminated several public relations jobs nationwide, including the position of regional Public Affairs Manager Liz Cox in Liberty Lake.

Cox had been with Agilent Technologies and its predecessor company, Hewlett-Packard, for more than 15 years.

The reductions will have no effect on Agilent’s commitment to local programs or contributions to area nonprofits, said Ron Brazee, Liberty Lake human resources manager for Agilent Technologies.

Brazee said he and other managers at the Liberty Lake office will handle those community relations duties.

Most of the company’s Liberty Lake workers are involved in research and development in Agilent’s wireless test division, creating products that are used by cell phone manufacturers.